Decline of Canada's Goalies - Article

[CaptainYooh]

Good three-page long article in Globe and Mail this morning analyzing Canadian goaltender development system with similar systems in Sweden and Finland. Also, some good charts/video.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sport...ticle15786050/

The larger concern is Canada’s goalie-developmental system is falling behind, a fear fanned over the summer, when the three major junior leagues made the controversial decision to ban import goaltenders. NHL teams now scout European netminders more heavily than ever, with some employing goalie experts in Stockholm or Helsinki to unearth hidden gems.

First, the Finns invested in developing goalies after realizing they could be a great equalizer for a small country. Then, Sweden started borrowing from their neighbours and rivals, improving upon the Finnish system. Now, Russia wants in and plans to buy and implement Sweden’s system into its junior ranks.

Around the time Canada’s dominance in goal reached its peak in the early 1990s, Finland began pumping resources into goaltending, taking the unprecedented step of training huge numbers of goalie coaches as a way of focusing on the position. As a country of only five million, competing in hockey internationally had always been difficult for the Finns until they hit on the idea that developing great goaltenders would have a bigger effect than great defencemen or forwards.

Those working to develop goalies in Canada paint a very different picture. Many goaltenders in this country don’t get any 1-on-1 instruction they don’t pay for, at least until they make it to the elite junior level.
One outspoken critic of the Canadian system is Steve McKichan, a former Toronto Maple Leafs goalie coach who runs high-level camps throughout Southern Ontario. He argues the financial burden associated with the position means it’s becoming dominated by the “kids of lawyers, doctors, accountants and hedge-fund guys.” As a result, it’s not always the best athletes who become Canada’s goalies.

“There’s great money in it, and I couldn’t handle the demand,” McKichan said of starting his Future Pro Goalie School in 1992. “And there’s a reason why there’s great money in it: People aren’t getting [training] where they’re supposed to be getting it – in their minor hockey organizations.” Jim Bedard, the Detroit Red Wings goalie coach, said he sees kids “with masks that have $400 or $500 paint jobs, never mind the cost of the mask – it’s just amazing.”

[Psytic]

I think goaltending across the board has declined. Canada looks weak this year, The US looks weak, Russia looks weak, The Czechs look weak. Unless you're Finland or Sweden you're probably sweating looking at your goaltending situation at these Olympics.

[CaptainYooh]

That's the point of the article. What are the hockey countries doing about this?

The last five Vézina Trophy winners as the NHL’s top goaltender have been American or European; no Canadians were even nominated the last two seasons. Goalies from this country have also had some high-profile flops in recent years, especially at the world junior tournament, where the top goalie award hasn’t gone to a Canadian since Steve Mason in 2008.

Many in the game now believe countries such as Sweden and Finland are simply doing it better, despite fewer resources and far fewer players. They’ve done it by recognizing that developing better goalies isn’t much different than how you would develop better surgeons, scientists or academics.

You teach them.

[Oling_Roachinen]

I blame Quebec, they know they have 1 job.

[Psytic]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

That's the point of the article. What are the hockey countries doing about this?

I agree? Doesn't mean I dont get the article.

[Kiran403]

Originally Posted by Psytic

I think goaltending across the board has declined. Canada looks weak this year, The US looks weak, Russia looks weak, The Czechs look weak. Unless you're Finland or Sweden you're probably sweating looking at your goaltending situation at these Olympics.

US goaltending looks pretty decent - Jonathan Quick, Corey Schneider, Ryan Millar. As long as Quick is healthy for the Olympics, he has a very reasonable chance to be much better than any of Canada's goalies.

[Psytic]

Originally Posted by Kiran403

US goaltending looks pretty decent - Jonathan Quick, Corey Schneider, Ryan Millar. As long as Quick is healthy for the Olympics, he has a very reasonable chance to be much better than any of Canada's goalies.

True, forgot about him. Was thinking Schneider and Miller.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Psytic

True, forgot about him. Was thinking Schneider and Miller.

While Craig Anderson is having an off year right now, he is in the conversation for USA as well.

[PeteMoss]

It is weird... even in the OHL which I'm familiar with all of the two best goalies who've come through in recent year - John Gibson and the guy eligible for the draft this year - Nedeljkovic are both Americans. Subban I guess would be the best Canadian hope from this part of the country recently.

But I wonder if it something different in the mental side of the development for the Canadians. Guys like Luongo, Fleury and Price are all super talented but they all seem flaky and prone to go through terrible stretches.

[jeffman]

Originally Posted by Psytic

True, forgot about him. Was thinking Schneider and Miller.

I though Miller looked decent to good this season from the games I watched. Its kinda hard to get good stats when youre facing 50 shots a night and youre defence plays like this:

[Textcritic]

God, I hate Sweden.

[spetch]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

God, I hate Sweden.

how?

[madmike]

Originally Posted by Psytic

I think goaltending across the board has declined. Canada looks weak this year, The US looks weak, Russia looks weak, The Czechs look weak. Unless you're Finland or Sweden you're probably sweating looking at your goaltending situation at these Olympics.

I know it may sound homerish, but Jon Gillies looks weak? He may be the best goalie in the tournament. And Gibson last year was unreal.

It's Canada that seems to have the biggest problem.

Edit: sorry I was talking junior. Canada has problems across the board. I think the US is doing ok. Why? I really don't know.

[moon]

I think it is pretty overblown and due mainly to Canada being so insanely better than everyone else and now basically the same as others. And if Price keeps this up not sure that anyone other than Finland has

Sweden has Lundqvist and who else? Do they have a goalie that is any better than Price, Luongo, Crawford, Smith, Holtby, Ward etc.? Outside of Quick are any of the American guys any better than those guys mentioned?

Finland likely has Rask and Rinne right now that are top 5 but is Niemi, Lehtonen, Backstrom better than the Canadian guys?

Russia is a mess with Bobrovsky and Varlamov their top guys. Pavelec is awful as the top guy for Czech, Hiller at best in same group as majority of the Canadians mentioned, Halak a step below.

Canada no longer has the clear top 3 guys in the league and 8 of the top 10 like they used but it is still pretty good and comparable to the other countries out there. Like mentioned with Luongo dropping a bit and Brodeur getting old they are missing that elite top 5 guy but Price looks like he could be there and if that is the case they are likely better than Sweden and US and just below Finland.

[dammage79]

Niemi is mega....MEGA under rated. The fact the Rinne may miss the Olympics is really no concern to Finland. They're ridiculously deep.

As for Canada, they need to make the training and equipment costs far more affordable to the kids that want to play the position but have to play outside of the net due to the cost of being a goalie.

Also, make it a rule that any mask used below the CHL level is not permitted to being painted. That'll set the money used on paint jobs go towards more important aspects of the position.

I know there are grassroots movements across the country now trying to address the cost of goaltending but its minimal as far as I know at this point.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Man the elite level of goaltending in the Q just isn't there anymore.

I remember when the best goalies in the league could win games on their own. If you had a top goalie your team was above .500.

Now the best goalies are a benefit of a system as opposed to skill learning the system.

I never really gave a ton of thought as to why the Quebec league has dropped the ball with goaltending, but cost in minor hockey is probably a huge reason. We're seeing the kids of the recession coming though now.

[vanisleflamesfan]

Feh! I think this is very over-blown. Let's just imagine that one of the Canadian born goaltenders drafted in the past few years such as Fucale or Comrie (just to name a few) storm into the NHL and win 45 games for a few years in a row. Suddenly, Price (probably a top 10 goaltender in the league) is being called the second best Canadian goaltender and once again Canada is viewed as being "very deep in goal".

[CSharp]

I think Giguere is pretty solid as either a backup or a starter if 7uongo starts to suck.

[Ped]

Originally Posted by CSharp

I think Giguere is pretty solid as either a backup or a starter if 7uongo starts to suck.

No chance Giguere is in Sochi unless its as a spectator.

[TurnedTheCorner]

I hate alarmist articles on the "state of Canadian hockey", every time they come out.